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Article

Preparation of Cellulose Nanocrystals by Synergistic Action of Ionic Liquid and Recyclable Solid Acid under Mild Conditions

1
College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi’an 710021, China
2
Faculty of Light Industry, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Science), Jinan 250353, China
3
Shandong Jincailun Paper Industry Co., Ltd., Liaocheng 252300, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Molecules 2023, 28(7), 3070; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28073070
Submission received: 5 February 2023 / Revised: 25 March 2023 / Accepted: 27 March 2023 / Published: 30 March 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Nanomaterials: Design and Applications)

Abstract

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are nanoscale particles made from cellulose. They have many unique properties such as being lightweight, stiff, and renewable, making them promising for a variety of applications in a wide range of industries, including materials science, energy storage, and biomedicine. In this paper, a two-stage (swelling-SA-catalyzed) method including IL pretreatment and solid acid hydrolysis process was developed to extract CNCs with high purity and good thermal stability from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). In the first stage, the swelling of MCC in ionic liquid was studied with the assistance of ultrasonication, and it was found that the amorphous regions became more disordered while the crystalline areas were selectively retained under the conditions of 30 min of reaction time, 45 °C of temperature, 2% of ionic liquid water content and 1:4 mass ratio of cellulose to ionic liquid. CNCs were extracted using solid acid hydrolysis, with a 45 wt% solid acid to cellulose ratio and a 5.0 h hydrolysis process at 45 °C. The morphology, crystallinity, surface characteristics and thermo stability of the sample were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Results demonstrated the highly thermostable CNCs were successful extracted with rodlike shape of 300 ± 100 nm in length and 20 ± 10 nm in width. Solid acid recovery and reuse were also studied, revealing a promising candidate that can reduce the environmental impact associated with chemical products.
Keywords: cellulose nanocrystals; ionic liquids; solid acid; swelling; hydrolysis; recycling cellulose nanocrystals; ionic liquids; solid acid; swelling; hydrolysis; recycling

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MDPI and ACS Style

Ma, L.; Xu, Y.; Chen, J.; Dong, C.; Pang, Z. Preparation of Cellulose Nanocrystals by Synergistic Action of Ionic Liquid and Recyclable Solid Acid under Mild Conditions. Molecules 2023, 28, 3070. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28073070

AMA Style

Ma L, Xu Y, Chen J, Dong C, Pang Z. Preparation of Cellulose Nanocrystals by Synergistic Action of Ionic Liquid and Recyclable Solid Acid under Mild Conditions. Molecules. 2023; 28(7):3070. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28073070

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ma, Li, Yongjian Xu, Jian Chen, Cuihua Dong, and Zhiqiang Pang. 2023. "Preparation of Cellulose Nanocrystals by Synergistic Action of Ionic Liquid and Recyclable Solid Acid under Mild Conditions" Molecules 28, no. 7: 3070. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28073070

APA Style

Ma, L., Xu, Y., Chen, J., Dong, C., & Pang, Z. (2023). Preparation of Cellulose Nanocrystals by Synergistic Action of Ionic Liquid and Recyclable Solid Acid under Mild Conditions. Molecules, 28(7), 3070. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28073070

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